Why Atheists Debate With Theists

[nailit]

It was suggested in another thread that atheists who debate/contribute to R&S are obsessive and may require therapy. I cant speak for other non-believers but I can speak for myself.
I debate/contribute to R&S for the same reasons that the politically minded contribute to news, for the same reason that right wingers will debate left wingers. I have minimal interest in politics so don't often get involved in those debates. I also don't have much knowledge of politics but I do have some knowledge of religion and in particular the Bible. I am not obsessive, I have stated many times that I have fundamentalist Christian friends and that I work with Christians but the topic of faith/belief rarely crops up in day to day life and I rarely, if ever, think about it. But if questions of faith arise, I WILL, give my viewpoint - as I do on here.
I don't believe in God or some supernatural being, I don't believe in biblical prophecy and I don't believe in miracles...and will give my reasons why when asked. When the Bible is toted as truth I will give my reasons why I don't believe that. When the Bible is held up as a moral guide book I will say why it isn't.
Some people on here seem to have an 'obsessive' interest in other sections of the site. I wouldn't say that they needed 'therapy'. We all have our own interests and mine happens to be R&S mainly because its something that I know a little about.
Hope this helps ;-)

[Old_Geezer]

Who else would they debate religious matters with ?

[douglas9401]

Amen.

[nailit]

Lol O-G.

[agchristie]

AB is a very broad church ;-)

[nailit]

Can we have an 'Atheist' category?
Wonder if the religious would resist posting on that?

[Neveracrossword]

Nailit, I quite like seeing how similar you and Theland, for example, are, despite your religious differences! You're both questioning things, you both have very strong views on certain aspects - and there's no danger of either of you ever 'converting' the other.

[nailit]

//and there's no danger of either of you ever 'converting' the other//
Give me time ;-)

[Theland]

I will babies you Nailit, total submersion - for about an hour :-)

[Theland]

"Babtise"

[Mamyalynne]

Is that your best chat up line or a threat ?:-)

[vetuste_ennemi]

Knock it on the head, Mamya.

[vetuste_ennemi]

What's the technical term for the spoony thing the priest uses to sprinkle the water?

[Mamyalynne]

Knock what on the head?

Lost your sense of humour?

[Mamyalynne]

Aspergillum

[vetuste_ennemi]

Meant as a joke, Mamya. (Massive fail)

[Mamyalynne]

Fiar enough :-)

[Mamyalynne]

Fair even , oops.

[naomi24]

//It was suggested in another thread that atheists who debate/contribute to R&S are obsessive and may require therapy.//

I couldn’t decide whether that was intended for atheists or for the faithful. If it wasn’t intended for the religious then the author hasn’t thought it through sufficiently. Depending upon their interests, atheists have multiple reasons for engaging in discussion with the religiously inclined.

[Theland]

Mamya - I'll hold him under and you sit on his chest whilst we think of a new babtismal name for him.

[jim360]

Why does anyone debate with someone who disagrees with them? It would be pretty boring constantly debating with people who agree with you. All you do is agree with each other. I guess constant disagreement can get quite tedious too, for both parties, but at least you stand more chance of learning something when you're being forced to challenge someone else's, and your own, viewpoints.

I don't see that atheism/theism should be any different.